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WINNIPEG - One of five suspects who led Winnipeg police officers on a dangerous pursuit in a stolen truck tried to elude cops by swimming across the Red River to freedom Tuesday.
Instead, he swam into the arms of police officers, who were waiting for him on the riverbank.
Const. Jason Michalyshen, a police spokesman, said uniformed officers spotted the black Dodge Ram, which was stolen somewhere outside Winnipeg, in the north end of the city at about 3 a.m.
Officers attempted to stop the truck using a spike belt but it was ineffective.
The truck struck two police cars and sped off, at one point driving the wrong way down a street.
Officers chased the truck before backing off due to the driver's unsafe driving, police said.
The truck was later located abandoned, and a canine unit was called in to sniff out the suspects.
All five were arrested and taken into custody.
Michalyshen said it was a risky decision for the one suspect to swim across the Red River, given the distance between the riverbanks, high water level and strong current.
Charges are pending.